New circular issued on student admission, transfers, class sizes
View(s):The Education Ministry has issued a circular to regulate student admissions from Grade 2 to Grade 11, excluding Grades 5 and 6, under the education reforms that began in 2026.
The new circular provides guidelines for allowing students who genuinely need to transfer from one school to another for various reasons to apply for admission so that they can be given priority.
A circular in this regard has been issued to all provincial chief secretaries, provincial education secretaries, provincial education directors, zonal education directors, divisional deputy/assistant education directors and principals of all schools.
The new guidelines limit classroom sizes for Grades 2 to 5 to a maximum of 40 students.
Vacancies for classrooms can only be considered if the number of students in the relevant grade on the date of calling for vacancies does not exceed this approved number of students.
The maximum approved number of students for a class may be revised based on future policy decisions taken in accordance with the new education reforms.
The circular also lays down the rules for the maintaining of parallel classes. There should be an equal number of parallel classes from Grade 1 to 5. Different rules apply for other grades.
A detailed procedure has been laid down by the circular for students who are seeking transfers to other schools including on scholarships.
The circular will be effective from 2026.
Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madhura Senevirathna told the Sunday Times students returning to Sri Lanka from overseas will benefit from a streamlined school admission process, with the implementation of the new circular aimed at easing enrollment.
He claimed the new guidelines have been formulated after many discussions with relevant stakeholders.
The new circular has provisions for children of parents who return from diplomatic service or government obligations, such as foreign training.
He said fair provisions have been established for specific categories of professionals during their transfers, and to prevent fraudulent documents, a new, transparent procedure has been introduced where parents must now produce original and transparent documents to certify their residency and address.
Practical issues had arisen in the previous circular no. 27/2025 which was issued on September 9, 2025.
In the previous circular certain categories of professionals faced difficulties related to job transfers as it did not align with opportunities for their children to secure school placements, he said. Also, there were no provisions for children returning to Sri Lanka from other countries, specifically those entering before Grade 1 or Grade 6.
Cabinet has provided approval to issue a new circular to govern admission of students between Grade 2 to 11 but excluding Grade 5 and 6 as it needs to align with new education reforms which have been initiated in 2026. (DWI/SS)
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